Sorry to complain everyone but I just fell at my wits end tonight. I've had three cardioversions and one ablation....for four months after the ablation I had my life back it really was wonderful then the dreaded AF was back and I'm on the waiting list for my second ablation.
Last weekend I spent in A&E with breathing difficulties terrible terrible wheezing but unable to cough anything up and a racing heart rate. I had blood test and chest xrays which suggested I was carrying some typed of infection which in turn effected my heart so fluid was building up..they couldn't cardio-vert as they said carrying infection it would just slip back out straight away....I came home and visited my GP the next morning who prescribed a two course of steriods and 500mg penicillin as well as the 10mg bisoprolol....6mg warfarin.
I week on and my breathing is still no better ( no worse) but I am able just to get some mucus up but I've noticed today it has blood in the phlegm this has scared me...I am feeling so depressed and frightened and my heart thump thump thumping isn't helping around 134bpm.
Looks like another trip to the GP first thing in the morning.
Thanks for reading
Written by
abihel
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Hi abihel, So sorry that you are feeling so miserable tonight. You have every right to feel fed up. Having an infection can definitely kick up the AF, though one would hope that post ablation, it wouldn't happens.....but it did. So now all you can do is try to get rid of this infection. If the blood in the phlegm is just streaks of blood, that is typically a sign of trauma from coughing and not a dire sign of any sort. When the phlegm is uniformly bloody, then that's another situation But you've had your x-ray and it sounds like they are on top of things trying to get you well. I had a cardioversion once in the midst of a lung infection and NSR lasted just long enough to get me out of the lab and back to my room. So I agree, if you are that sick right now, it's counterproductive to cardiovert until you have healed. Feeling your heart wildly thumping never makes anything easier to cope with, and so I hope you can somehow get the rest you need tonight and that things will look brighter in the morning. Good for you if you are a candidate for a second ablation and they can clean up what was missed the first time. Look forward to that NSR because you will get there!!! Feel better soon!
Thank you so so much for reading and replying to my post.....it's actually made me cry to think that someone out there understands.....just knows how I feel thank you. I am in permanent ( persistent) AF. You are right I will get back to NSR I must keep positive. I just feel at only 53 my life has been snatched from me.....there is so much I can't do now....which before AF wasn't a problem.
Do you think we are more prone to infections ( lungs, wheezing etc) being sufferers of A F.
I really can't thank you enough for your reply...you're a God send xxxxxxx
I'm glad to help where I can. Having AF does not necessarily predispose you to lung infections and wheezing unless there is another component of heart disease which coexists with the AF. I think one's overall health is more tied to general lifestyle issues which can either improve or decrease your immune system. Of course, if you are depressed about your AF, that in itself can decrease your immunity. I am a firm believer in being as proactive as possible about staying healthy in every way, with diet and exercise and meditation and yoga to ease the stress that AF brings, and ultimately to be heart healthy, because there are worse things that can happen to your heart than AF. The electrical problem is problem enough! I was 51 when I was diagnosed 12 years ago. You have decades of happy life ahead. Don't let AF take it from you. Hopefully they can fix it with another ablation. Be positive, be hopeful, be peaceful and do everything you can to be well in every way. We are always glad to be here to listen along the road....and to offer our 2 cents
So sorry to hear that you are having a terrible time of it. I also find AF to be emotionally draining. I don't think that people who have not experienced AF understand how one feels.
Let's hope that the infection comes under control and that you can get back to NSR.
I do feel for you. It can feel so overwhelming when you have more than one thing going on at the same time and we all know how awful a thumping heart is. Hopefully you'll be turning a corner the minute the infection starts to be sorted.
Hi Abi - I can totally understand why you are feeling the way you are right now, I have been there myself. However, after having AF for 10 years I have learnt that these attacks always get better. Although it's hard to see now, you will look back on this episode when you are well again and may even think, "I was so poorly then".
We all get varying degrees of AF and at your heat rate I would be feeling ok if sitting, but would be unable to walk far and could just about manage the supermarket. How I envy those people who are not even aware of being in AF! My AF nurse told me recently that people with paroxysmal AF suffer a lot more.
You are poorly right now with your chest infection and AF, you have a right to feel sorry for yourself. I feel sorry for you, but you will get better and your plan to see your GP again is a good one.
I know Jean I am struggling with every day things and I can't walk far at all....after the ablation for 4 month I felt wonderful like a new person so that's what I'm aiming for I'd forgotten what it was like just to be normal and it was bloody lovely.
Seen the doctor and have been given 2nd course of penicillin....fingers crossed I should be feeling a little better soon. xxxx
Thank you for your kind thought Jean I really do appreciate it. xxx
So sorry to hear you've been so ill, Abihel, I don't blame you for feeling down and fed up, but I'm sure the medics are working hard to find a way to get you back into NSR once this infection is cleared up. Take care of yourself and get well soon.
Thank you....round two of penicillin.....I had such a bad weekend.....new week ....new determination I will beat this! xx
I came back from Madeira with a viral infection, think from a moscito bite maybe. It went straight to my heart and took me 3 weeks to get back to near normal.
You sound as though you are having a really bad time. Infections seem to bring on A fib. Try to calm down - not easy -try breathing excercises . A fib is sneaky - any sign of panic seems to make it worse.
I can imagine how awful you feel. I have a pretty quiet AF as I am in permanent AF but when I have a really bad cough and cold my heart goes crazy.I wish you well soon.
I'm sorry your feeling so unwell. I don't have AF but I have IST with massive amounts of PVCS. When I am feeling unwell even on my heart medication my heart goes crazy. Any sort of infection seems to kick start it into some crazy rates. Sometimes it gets very frustrating when your doing everything right and it is still acting up. I hope you feel better really soon.
The only time I don't seem to have heart issues bothering me is when I'm exercising. When I'm relaxing or sleeping is the worst, or maybe I notice the issue more. Hard to relax when your heart is going at 170 for hours on end. All heart issues are stressful in my opinion, their very frustrating for sure. I'm waiting for ablation surgery and we only have 1 cardiologist in my city that does this, could take up to a year or more to get it. In the mean time try to control the issues with meds. Yup I can understand exactly how frustrated you are. It's not nice to never feel good.
I'm sorry you feel so rotten - a chest infection is a misery without the extra burden of a racing heart. The one thing to hold on to is that it will pass - hopefully soon, when the antibiotics kick in.
Hope things improve for you - it's lovely to see so many well wishers on this forum, so we know we're not alone, even though it can seem like it when we're dealing with a loud, chaotic heart in the middle of the night.
Let's hope the Antiobotics kick in soon & your feeling much better in no time. It's interesting really people do not understand unless they have AF them self.
Abihel your body is telling you something's not quite right...rest, keep calm and let the penicillin do its job. The heart thumping is awful - I know it happens to me too and it's scary. God willing you will feel better soon. Take care. Patricia.
Hi abihel,well,the only way is up now gal! I have been interested in the link between stress and Af for a while. I don't just mean mental stress, physical as well, and any infection causes our body stress.It is all connected and like a spider web,if one part is shaken,we get the nasty 'effect 'of Af . No one who has never had Af really knows how it feels and how it can freak us out good and proper. My friends and family ask and I try and explain..but you know..The only one I could ask would have been my mum but sadly she passed away from heart complications (77 though)
I think you will be in a much better place soon, and back up to speed.As others have said a bit of blood often happens especially when we are cough cough coughing.Get the infection under control,won;t be long then upwards and onwards.
Thank you so much for reading and responding to my post.....I know some people don't have any symptoms from AF unfortunately I'm not one of them I struggle walking getting extremely short of breath and very tired. When I am in sinus rhythm I'm like a different person.
Your right onwards and upwards...thank you again xxxx
ha ha I am a gal a middle aged one but still a girl the last time I looked.... my two daughters are called Abbie and Helena so when I first came on here they wanted a user name so I just mixed them up. My name is Carolyn I don't know why I just didn't use my real name from the off. xxxx
Carolyn......or abihel........when I read your posts I feel your panic and fear. I know this afib takes hold of us even when it isn't acting up its there lurking somewhere in the back of our minds. I get awfully scared just thinking about it and I'm post ablation doing well.....just 3 months but praying. one day at a time is the deal......hard I know. Sending you warm and loving thoughts from across the ocean.
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